Water sleeve



Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

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WILLIAM T. LAWLESS, OF LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

WATER- SLEEVE.

Applcation filed March 17, 1923.

To al whom t may Concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM THEwLns LAwLEss, a subject of His Majesty, King George V, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, residing at the city of London, in the county of Middlesex, Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in IVater Sleeves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the device for supporting the human body in water by means of rubber bladders, or containers inflated with air, in which the said inflated bladders are attached to each arm of the body, being supported by means of sleeves in which elastic is inserted, the invention or device to be worn on both arms facing outwards, between the elbow and the shoulder and the objects of my improvements are, first; to provide a support which permits of the free use of the hands and arms while being worn, second to provide a support which receives the buoyance between the elbow and the forearm and supports the head of the body of the person to which they are attached, above Water, without motion on itspart.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure l is an elevation of an embodiment of my device worn on the human body.

Figure 2 is an elevation of one of the water sleeves.

Figure 3 is a cross section through Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the cloth container, showing the air container partly broken away.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the bladder.

Figure 6 is an end view of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The oval air container or bladder A, the cloth container A A and the sleeve Serial No. 625,812.

Il and the rubber band and easement F constitute the essential parts of the device. The oval air container A is made of rubber with longitudinal reinforcement at B and reinforcing C where the tube D is attached, (the use of a valve is optional and a rubber tube without same is preferred, air to be retained by tying teat tightly with string or twine) fitting snugly about the oval air container when inflated, is the cloth container A A with small opening sufficient to allow the rubber tube to protrude for the purpose of inflating. Attached and sewn to the cloth container A A and placed equidistant from each end is the sleeve E made of cloth with an insertion of rubber known as a rubber band G encased in a cloth enea-sement F, to give the sleeve the necessary elasticity and tightness to retain same in position whenbeing worn, and to permit its removal when not needed. The oval air container is deflated when not in use and can be inflated when no valve) by lung pressure or with valve by ordinary hand pump.

The device when worn on both arms between elbow and forearm with oval air container inflated will support a body with head above water without motion or exertion. The device is made in different sizes for different weights. The heavier the body the larger the size required. The device is worn on the outside of the arms as in Figure 6.

I am aware that prior to my invention water supports or floats have been made with oval air containers, and cloth containers. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly but.

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. The combination of a rubber oval air container` with cloth cover or container and a cloth sleeve in which is inserted a rubber band in a cloth encasement, the whole to be worn on the arms between the elbows and the shoulders. Y

2. The attachment of a sleeve with rubbei' band and casing to an oval ail' conkeep the head above water and permit restainei' with Cloth easing in such a lnannel` piration. l0 that when worn 0n the arms between el- Dated at London, Ontario, this 28th day bows and shoulders complete freedom of o February, 1923.

5 forearms and hands is permitted and the W T LAVVLESS buoya-nce is received between the elbow and the shoulder and the human body is sup Signed in the presence ofported n water n such a manner as to XVM. B. HENDERSON. 

